Alexandra Newlon

Grief Therapy

The majority of my clinical experience is in the area of grief and bereavement; having worked as a bereavement therapist with a Hospice agency for approximately 6 years. My role as a grief therapist is to support my clients exploration of the physical, social, behavioral or emotional toll losing a loved one has taken on their lives and wellbeing. We may explore the multitude of factors that have impacted your grief reactions and why they may differ from others around you; for example, what was your relationship with your loved one (were you a caregiver)?, are you struggling to cope with unresolved conflict or guilt?, was your loved ones death a prolonged illness or sudden?, are you facing additional losses (financial, social, relationships or community, loss of roles you once held)? Our work in therapy is meant to validate the magnitude of the grief and loss you are experiencing, while learning how to move forward with rebuilding our lives and bringing those we have lost with us. Above all, my role as a grief therapist is to encourage an understanding that your life has meaning and purpose, and that moving forward is possible with support.

Structural Family Therapy

Many of the origins of our unconscious thoughts and behaviors can be found in our family systems. Exploring our histories, family dynamics, the roles that we hold (or held) and core relationships can help clients regain a sense of control over the trajectory of their lives. During therapy, we may engage in exercises that explore how different interactions and patterns might be contributing to the issues you're experiencing presently. As your therapist, we will look into how changing interactions and behaviors - thus breaking unhealthy cycles that were established long before you - can improve upon your wellbeing, relationships and personal autonomy.

Person-centered (Rogerian)

At its core, Person-Centered techniques aim to give clients the freedom to explore what they want to work on and where they want therapy to take them. I believe the Person-Centered approach helps build trust between myself and my clients, while helping to create a nonjudgmental environment for us to work in. This approach doesn't focus on 'problems' or 'fixing you', its about respecting where you are today and finding constructive ways to use your existing attributes to get you where you want to go or closer things you would like to be different.

Dialectical Behavior (DBT)

Dialectical Behavioral techniques (DBT) help clients find balance between acceptance and commitment to their goals. I've used these techniques as a means of helping clients gain insight, tolerance, create boundaries and regulate intense emotions. I often explain this method to clients as being an "and" approach, rather than feeling stuck in an "either or" situation that is outside of our control. This therapeutic approach is meant to validate your feelings "and" learn ways to move forward, in spite of, distressing and sometimes intolerable roadblocks.